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Feds approve Idaho plan to save wildlife

Posted at 4:38 PM, Mar 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-14 18:38:15-04

Federal authorities have approved Idaho's wildlife conservation plan -- that allows the state to seek federal money to bolster mainly nongame species and avoid potential listings under the Endangered Species Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in a letter received by state officials last week, signed off on Idaho's 1,500-page Wildlife Action Plan that identifies 205 species of concern.

Those species include already-listed grizzly bears and salmon to imperiled sage grouse, monarch butterflies and the magnum mantleslug, which hasn't been verified in Idaho since a dead one was found 2013.

Idaho has received about $550,000 annually under its previous plan developed in 2005.

Fish and Wildlife's Kathy Hollar says Idaho did a great job identifying species of greatest concern and prioritizing what actions need to occur to help them.

(by Associated Press)